I will respond to a few claims that the veterans do not want this package. It is just not true. The ranking member can disagree on the bill. He can disagree on the offset. He can argue that they would have written the package differently, but I do not think it is accurate to suggest the veterans' community, as a whole, is somehow united against this legislative package.
2026 MidtermsSolid SeatR+48D shift +2$743K raised
Mike Bost
Representative · Illinois · Republican
Mike Bost
House Floor
Recent comments in the House
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act. As a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, for me, this bill is personal. When a young man or woman raises their right hand and agrees to serve this country, America makes a promise. That promise does not end when a servicemember is wounded. It is my goal--and the goal of my friend, Senator Jerry Moran--to deliver on that promise. This bill would be one of the most comprehensive veteran packages considered by Congress in a decade.
Mr. Speaker, veterans groups from The American Legion to the Wounded Warrior Project support this bill. Survivor groups like the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors support this bill. Caregiver organizations, like the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, support this bill. They all want this bill to pass. Chairman Moran and I have worked for months to try to enact a law that will help the greatest number of veterans. I believe we have offered that kind of package today. I want to take a moment to share what we have heard directly from veterans.
Biography
Mike Bost, a former firefighter and small business owner, represents Illinois’s 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, first elected in 2014. He focuses on veterans’ affairs, rural economic development, and protecting Second Amendment rights. As Chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Bost has led bipartisan efforts to expand healthcare and benefits for veterans, and has helped secure infrastructure funding for Southern Illinois. Known for his direct communication and practical problem-solving, Bost aims to ensure his district’s voices are heard in Washington.
Education
- Certified Firefighter II, University of Illinois Fire Academy, Champaign, IL1993
Professional History
U.S. Representative
2015-PresentRepresenting Illinois's 12th district
Firefighter, Murphysboro Fire Department
1993–2018Member, Illinois House of Representatives
1995–2015Truck Manager/driver, Bost Trucking Service
1982–92Small Business Owner
Policy Focus
Armed Forces and National Security48%
Government Operations and Politics8%
Transportation and Public Works8%
Public Lands and Natural Resources6%
Notable Legislation
Key legislative actions from Mike Bost's record in Congress.
Veterans Affairs Reform
Co-sponsored and helped pass the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act to improve accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Rural Broadband Expansion
Supported funding and legislation to expand high-speed internet access to underserved rural communities in Southern Illinois.
Agriculture Support
Advocated for Southern Illinois farmers in the 2018 Farm Bill, securing provisions for crop insurance and rural development.
First Responders Funding
Secured federal grants for local fire departments and emergency responders through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
Committee Assignments
View details →- House Committee on Veterans' AffairsChair
- House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- House Committee on Agriculture
Rep. Mike Bost FAQ
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